This summer has brought a series of shocking events to Canada, from air quality to the devastating wildfires that have ravaged vast areas of the country. More than 55 million people in the United States have been under air quality alerts, while in Canada, an alarming 13 million hectares have been consumed by wildfires, marking a drastic 15-fold increase compared to years ago. previous.
The city of Yellowknife, one of the major cities in the Northwest Territories, experienced anguish on Wednesday night when an evacuation order was issued due to the imminent threat of fire. This grim chapter closes a tragic summer in Canada, with tens of thousands of people forced from their homes and vast areas of land burned to the ground.
Regional Prime Minister Caroline Cochrane shared her impressions on the social platform X, formerly known as Twitter, stating that “We are all tired of the term ‘unprecedented’, but there is no other way to describe this situation.”
The number of active fires reached more than 1,000, of which around 230 affected the Northwest Territories. More than 20,000 Yellowknife residents were ordered to evacuate the city by noon Friday, with warnings about dangerous road conditions surrounded by flames and thick smoke.
The images shared on social networks and in the media showed forested landscapes turned into a desolate black. Vehicles that managed to escape before the roads became impassable suffered damage, with melted headlights and peeling paint from the extreme heat.
The Canadian military has responded to the emergency, deploying planes and soldiers to fight the fires. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised support and assistance from the central government.
This season has seen fires of colossal proportions that have left a devastating mark on Canada, forcing mass evacuations and causing the loss of 13.5 million hectares, almost double the previous record. The situation is serious and demonstrates the urgent need to address the impact of climate change in the region.